Refinement of the subunit interaction network within the nucleosome remodelling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex.

Unlabelled: The nucleosome remodelling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex is essential for the development of complex animals. NuRD has roles in regulating gene expression and repairing damaged DNA. The complex comprises at least six proteins with two or more paralogues of each protein routinely identified when the complex is purified from cell extracts.

Structural Basis of MeCP2 Distribution on Non-CpG Methylated and Hydroxymethylated DNA.

The Rett-syndrome-associated methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) selectively binds methylated DNA to regulate transcription during the development of mature neurons. Like other members of the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) family, MeCP2 functions through the recognition of symmetrical 5-methylcytosines in CpG (mCG) dinucleotides. Advances in base-level resolution epigenetic mapping techniques have revealed, however, that MeCP2 can bind asymmetrically methylated and hydroxymethylated CpA dinucleotides and that this alternative binding selectivity modifies gene expression in the developing mammalian brain.

Methylation specific targeting of a chromatin remodeling complex from sponges to humans.

DNA cytosine methylation and methyl-cytosine binding domain (MBD) containing proteins are found throughout all vertebrate species studied to date. However, both the presence of DNA methylation and pattern of methylation varies among invertebrate species. Invertebrates generally have only a single MBD protein, MBD2/3, that does not always contain appropriate residues for selectively binding methylated DNA.